The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1887-10-20

coat. oltsids which . bait was fastened
Hh hAfr and whiskors were reddish. alc
he had yellow, wrinkled, hawk like faoc.
that was siugularly repulsive. He stayed
TO watch the effect Of his shot, then spring.
ing to his feet, uttered . shrill whoop
brandished his gun, and was about TO fol
low his comrades, whom tho whistle OF
bullets passed the cottage, and after bound.
ing upward, the man fell on his back in the
snow, and lay motionless. his arms out.
stretched.
my hostess, her face pressed against the
window. looked on breathlessly; and when
the man fell, she dropped on her knees. and
with uplifted hands, cried, in an agitated
voice: God pardon me, for poor wicked
crsyture. who forgot that her cause was in
His hands when l sought the life Of an in.
nocent gossoon." She staggered to the bed.
and throwing herself across the boys feet,
sobbed Historically He, divided between
sorrow for his father and anxiety for him
self, after one sad wall OF DADDY! daddy !''
sat pale and trembling.
The wind brought to US the dull sound OF
horses hoofs. and . troop Of lanccrs came
trotting up the glen by twos. the sunlight
glancing from the points Of their spears.
Behind, at slower pace, two or three com.
panies Of infantry climbed the rugged path.
The whole force was drawn up on the level
space before the door, and an officer, attend
ed by q couple OF soldiers, entered.
The poor woman was too agtated to an
swcr his inquiries, and undertook to satisfy
him about the passage Of the rebels and my
own identity.
"Who is this young man, madamr; he
asked, referring to the boy, who, on finding
himself observed, shrank back in the bed
me son, cap.en-me only boy. yer honor
Don't be afraid. Patsy, darlin'; the han
some gintleman won't do any thin to ye.''
rs the poor lad ills" the officer asked
alphabetically.
mo, sir; no, yer honor; but the boys
the Faynians, name, sir-frightened him
| an runnin' home, he turned his ankle be
na,he him. That's all. captcn, sir
The soldiers departed, and soon followed
leaving the boy bemoaning the loss of his
| only relative, whose body the troops car
ried with them, while the woman tried to
console him.
Iarrived in London without further Incl
dent.
Business took me again into that neigh
borhood some years afterwards, and as thu
weather was fine, made an OK cursion Il
the scene OF the adventure have related.
The place was easily found, and wa,
agreeably surprised by the changes tina
had taken place. Patsy Ryan was still
with the widow, whose desire for ven
| geance had collapsed on the death OF tn,
boys father. He was married, and hat
three sturdy children, who called tho OLE
lady s'grannie." The little cottage was re
| placed by sabsta house: the ruggcs
waste that formerly ran downward from
| the door, was now cultivated and fenced il
with the stones that Patsy dug from hi
land: a couple Of cows grazed lower down
and pigs, ducks and geese roamed about a
| will.
Nothing could exceed the tenderness
shown by the old lady and her adopted Sol
towards one another; and AZ sat befor
the hearth. surrounded by the family,
could not help contrasting the comfort AM
peace that now reigned there, with tn
poverty, the misery, the fierce passion
that saw on my former vist.-ChamIsr
| Journal